6/28/2022 Today’s Gospel Reading – Matthew 8:23-27

23 As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
24 Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep.
25 They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
26 He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.
27 The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

6/28/2022 Today’s Gospel Reflection: Jesus Calms the Storm

After listening to great teachings and witnessing many miracles, the disciples were excited to follow Jesus. Yet as they were enjoying a boat ride with the Master, a violent storm suddenly came up and they were terrified. We could imagine their initial conversation. Perhaps one of them asked, “Is this what we deserve? After following Jesus, we experience storm?”. Jesus was correct after all. Following Him is not a bed of roses.

The gospel reading above is teaching us to be ready to experience storms in our Christian life. We all encounter difficulties, problems, persecutions and other unhappy situations in our life even after many years of following Jesus. Yet as the same passage tells us, we have Jesus with us. He may be asleep sometimes so that our prayers go unanswered but when we truly call on Him, He “wakes up” and responds positively to our needs. He is in control of our life even when we are in the darkest moments. Let us therefore keep the faith and not terrified.

For further reflection, go here.